Machine for the manufacture of structural assemblies



Jan. 18, 1944. 2,339,727

MACHINE FOR mm MANUFACTURE OF STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES w. K. TAYLOR Filed April 15', I942 j/mgw.

.Zwea'afo Patented Jan. 18, 1944 MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES Walter K. Taylor, Jersey City, N. J., assignor to American Houses, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 15, 1942, Serial No. 439,060

4 Claims. (Cl. 144-136) This invention relates to a new and improved device for use in the manufacture of structural assemblies employed in prefabricated dwellings and the like, and more particularly to a device adapted for use in the preparation of prefabricated window frames.

It has been found desirable to employs generally, and in prefabricated dwellings particularly, a method of hanging windows wherein the ordinary pulley, window-cord and weight are dispensed with and in lieu thereof the sash is provided with a grooved element in which rides an element affixed to the Window frame. This latter element is fastened on the top of the frame and bottom of the sash and is sunk in grooves cut into the sash so that it will not protrude beyond the sash proper. This system of window hanging has achieved widespread use. t is known as the unique balance type of hanging. As will be apparent, in frames employing this method of hanging it is necessary to out two grooves in the lower sash element, each groove extending in from the edge of the sash a distance sufficient to receive and retain the ends of the window-hanging element aifiXed to the sash.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which will simultaneously out both grooves in oneend of a sash such as has been described, and which is adapted for use with frames of varying widths.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a table and frame-positioning means in association with a pair of routers, and to provide means for adjusting the position of one router with respect to the other to accommodate Win dow frames of varying widths.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section along the line 2-2 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, It represents a table upon which the work to be processed is placed, and .l2 represents supports therefor. At one end of the table there is positioned a fixed guide or shoulder l4 against which the work is initially placed. At the other end of the table there is positioned a second guide or shoulder l6. This guide may be adjustably positioned with respect to the table Ill, for example between the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1 and the position shown in dotted lines therein. Adjustment is accomplished by aflixing the guide it to the table I!) by meansof the clamps 98 extending through the slots 26 in the table. Theguide [6 acts as an abutment against which the work to be processed is moved.

Along one edge of the table there is provided a work guide or shoulder 22 which is adapted to carry a pair of routers 24, 26. Router 24 is fixedly positioned with respect to shoulder 54 and shoulder 22 so that as a window frame is placed against shoulder i i and forced into contact with shoulder 22, the cutter of router 24 makes a hole of the desired depth and width in the end of the sash. As the sash is then moved from right to left on the table ill, as viewed in Fig. 1, the router 24 completes the cutting of the groove at one end of the edge of the sash. Router 26 is preferably mounted on rails 28, which in turn may be carried by shoulder 22 so that it may be adjustably positioned with respect to router 2 1 between the positions shown in solid lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this connection an opening 3!] is provided in shoulder 22 through Which the cutting element of router 26 extends. Means (not shown) may be provided if desired for fixing the position of router 26 with respect to shoulder 16, so that the distance between the cutting tool of router 26 and the inner face of shoulder 16 remains constant and is at all times equal to the distance between the inner face of shoulder l4 and the cutting tool of router 24.

In operation, shoulder I6 and router 25 are first positioned for the device to handle sashes of the desired width so that, for example, when the window sash has been placed against shoulder 14 and forced thereafter against shoulder 22, router 26 will begin to cut the desired groove in the extreme outer edge of the sash. Thereafter, as the sash is moved from right to left in the manner previously described, routers 24 and 26 will function simultaneously to out two grooves of equal length, equal breadth, and equal depth in the end of the Window sash for the purpose hereinbefore explained. The sash may thenbe with.

be accomplished rapidly and inexpensively, and

the cost of the installation of the work substantially reduced. Where thousands of similar houses employing tens of thousands of identical windows are being made, as is at present the case, this saving bulks large in the aggregate.

It is to be understood that both routers and end guides may if desired be made adjustable, or both routers may be fixedly positioned with respect to the end guides and the table 10 lengthened or shortened as a whole. So also, any suitable means for mounting the adjustable elements may be employed. Where a vast number of identical frames are to be produced, a saving may even be accomplished by making the machine with the elements fixed and non-adjustable. Moreover, while the device has been described in connection with the construction of window frames, it is to be understood that its use neednot be so limited, but that it may be employed wherever it is desired to out two grooves simultaneously, one adjacent each end of a piece of lumber.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a, matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a work-receiving table, three guides to limit the movement of Work thereon, and a pair of spaced routers mounted adjacent one side of said table and extending through one of said guides, the others of said guides being spaced a greater distance apart than the length of the work, said routers being so positioned with respect to the said others of said guides that as work is moved along said first-mentioned guide from contact with one to the other of said other guides, on said table, said routers cut a plurality of grooves of substantially equal length therein.

2. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a fixedly positioned work-receiving table, three guides to limit the movement of work thereon, a pair of spaced routers mounted adjacent one side of said table, said routers being mounted upon that one of said guides which is adapted to limit the depth of cut of each router in the work, the other two said guides being positioned a greater distance apart than the length of the work and being adapted to limit the movement of the work along the face of the first said guide. 7

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a fixedly positioned work-receiving table, three guides to limit the movement of work thereon, a pair of spaced routers mounted adjacent one side of said table, said routers being mounted upon that one of said guides which is adapted to limit the depth of cut of each router in the Work, said guide being fixedly positioned with respect to said table, the other guides being end guides spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the work and each router being positioned an equal distance from the nearer of the said end guides thereto.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a fixedly positioned work-receiving table, three guides to limit the movement of work thereon, a pair of spaced routers mounted adjacent one side of said table, said routers being mounted upon that one of said guides Which is adapted to limit the depth of cut of each router in the Work, said guide being fixedly positioned with respect to said table, at least one of said other guides and one of said routers being slidably mounted with respect to said table, the said slidably mounted guide and the third said guide being spaced a greater distance apart than the length of said work and being adapted to limit 

